14 Day Western Explorer Expedition

Transcription

1 Trip Dossier Specialist in nature tours since Day Western Explorer Expedition Camping Small Group Tour - Max 12 passengers Broome to Perth 30 July - 12 August 2019 Itinerary Highlights: Camping on the peaceful banks of the De Grey River Marble Bar and Chinaman s Pool Karijini National Park -Oxers Lookout, Weano and Dales Gorges Mount Bruce - for great views over the surrounding Hamersley Range and Marandoo mining Mount Augustus - walks up on to the rock for magnificent views, Aboriginal rock art and shady waterholes. Cattle Pool - swim and relax in the shade of the River Gums Kennedy Ranges - explore impressive gorges, bird life and wildflowers Murchison country - unique scenery rich with wildflowers Coalseam Conservation Park - spectacular wildflowers, bird life and history

2 This trip is designed to coincide with the northern wildflower season and provides the opportunity to explore the wonderful Karijini, Mt Augustus and Kennedy Range national parks. We ll begin with the magnificent Karijini National Park. Famous for its spectacular gorges, waterfalls and cool swimming holes, this is one of the largest national parks in Western Australia boasting an abundance of plant life, with 481 recorded species. It has been estimated that an additional 320 species may be found here if more thorough studies were conducted. Karijini is also home to a variety of marsupials, including the endemic Pilbara Ningaui (Ningaui timealeyi) and Little Red Antechinus (Dasykaluta rosamondae). Measuring at over twice the size of Uluru, Mt Augustus is the world s largest monocline. At dawn and dusk the colours of the rock constantly change, creating beautiful effects. The area is well known for its prolific birdlife and flora. An ornithologist counted more than 100 bird species here in just two days. The vegetation is open mulga shrub land. The mountain is home to several endemic plant species, including a native hibiscus, a Mulla-Mulla and a striking native fox glove. The gorges and mountains of Karijini, the aboriginal art, unique wildflowers, spectacular views and the natural beauty of the Kennedy Range combine to provide an unforgettable experience. Itinerary Day 1 Broome to De Grey River Departing Broome early this morning we ll begin our southward journey and travel via the Great Northern Highway and the Boreline Road to the De Grey River to set up camp. The Water holes formed in the river during the dry season are a great place to view wildlife and birds that come to the water for a drink. Accommodation: Bush camp De Grey River LD Day 2 De Grey River to Karijini National Park On our journey this morning we ll pass through Marble Bar. We ll have a look around this well known Pilbara town and then head on to Karijini National Park. We will also have time to swim at Fern and Circular Pool s. Accommodation: National Park Camp Day 3 & 4 Karijini National Park We ll spend the next two days exploring and photographing the natural features of this magnificent area, including Oxers lookout, Weano Gorge and Dales Gorge. Accommodation: National Park Camp Day 5 Karijini National Park to Tom Price This morning we ll explore Mt Bruce, and then head to Tom Price where you can enjoy some free time in while the crew restock our fresh food supplies. Accommodation: Campsite Tom Price Day 6 Tom Price to Bush Camp on Dooley Downs Road Leaving Tom Price, today we ll continue south, passing through station country as we travel towards Mount Augustus. Accommodation: Bush Camp north Mt Augustus Day 7 & 8 Dooley Downs Road to Mt Augustus An early start this morning will get us into Mt Augustus around mid morning. We will set up our camp and spend the rest of the day and all of the next day exploring Mount Augustus. We can take a variety of walks up onto the rock to enjoy magnificent views, to Aboriginal rock art displays and shady waterholes. At Cattle Pool you can have a swim and relax in the shade of River Gums. Accommodation: Campsite at Mt Augustus Caravan Park

3 Day 9 Mt Augustus to Kennedy Ranges Today we ll head to the Kennedy Ranges driving through the semi-arid Gascoyne region where we should see plenty of Little Corellas, Pink and Grey Galahs, Wedge-tailed Eagles, and wildflowers on the way. We ll set up camp in the shadow of the towering cliff face of the eastern side of the ranges. Once we set up our camp we will go for a 2km walk on the Temple Gorge Trail with wonderful views up and into the red towering cliffs. Accommodation: Kennedy Ranges Bush Camp Day 10 Kennedy Ranges This morning a walk to the top of the range will reward you stunning vistas over the plain and small tufted covered sand dunes. This afternoon we will visit the intriguing Honeycomb Gorge, named after it s honeycomb filigree pattern. Accommodation: Kennedy Ranges Bush Camp BL Day 11 Kennedy Ranges to Murchison Back on the road, today we ll continue south, via Gascoyne Junction. We will be stopping along the way for wildlife sightings. Accommodation: Murchison Camp Ground Day 12 Murchison to Coalseam Conservation Reserve Today we ll continue through Murchison country which boasts unique scenery and should be rich with Everlastings and other wildflowers. There will be time this afternoon to take a walk through the reserve. Accommodation: National Park Campsite Day 13 Coalseam to Western Flora (Eneabba) Today we head to the coast to Dongara to for fresh supplies and continue the private wildflower reserve Western Flora. This afternoon will wander around the reserve for the wonderful wildflowers and birdlife Accommodation: Western Flora Campsite Day 14 Western Flora to Perth Today we head back to Perth via the coastal highway. We will have many opportunities to stop along the way to enjoy the Spring wildflower displays. The tour ends with our mid to late afternoon arrival in Perth. BL NOTE: The above itinerary may be varied according to conditions and advice.

4 Tour Costs Cost: $4, per person (single tents are free of charge) Departs: Broome 30 July 2019 Finishes: Perth 12 August 2019 Max No. Of Participants: 12 passengers, Coates Naturalist Leader and a Driver /Guide Tour Payments Deposit: At time of booking $ per person Final Payment: On or before 30 June 2019 Note: The final payment is non refundable if canceled within 30 days of the departure date. Travel Insurance covering all payments is available and is strongly recommended. Special Offers Early Bird Bookings Save $ per person if booked and deposited by 15 January 2019 Group Booking Save 7.5% per person for a group of 4 or more Book Multiple Tours Save 5% per person on the second and subsequent tours if more that one tour is booked in the same year. Applies to the cheaper tours. Please note: Discounts cannot be combined; Discounts are only available on bookings made directly with Coates. Included Well-maintained vehicle with all front-facing, seatbelted, mostly reclining coach-style seats; 2 crew - Naturalist Guide and Driver/Cook; Easy-to-erect dome tents and camp chairs with armrests; Self-inflating air mattress and stretcher bed; All eating utensils; Meals as per itinerary B (breakfast), L (lunch), D (dinner); Morning teas; Fruit available on board the vehicle throughout the day; Campsite fees; All national park entrance fees. Not Included Alcoholic & carbonated drinks (you are welcome to bring your own); Pillows; Sleeping bags (can be hired from us for $55.00 each with prior notice); Travel insurance (very strongly recommended); Travel expenses to Broome; Pre and post tour accommodation; All other private expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone calls, camera batteries); Entrance fees or activity costs other than those included above.

5 Tour Information Naturalist Guide: Driver Guide: TBA TBA Vehicle & Equipment: Air conditioned purpose built 4WD tour coach with all front facing, mostly reclining, seat-belted seats, power facilities and all the necessary camping equipment. Passengers are required to supply their own sleeping bags and pillows, or a sleeping bag can be hired from us with prior notice for $ Accommodation: Accommodation on this tour is a combination of bush camps and campsites. Bush camps are at locations chosen by the tour guide for their suitability and natural benefits. There are usually no facilities apart from a long-drop bush toilet. We carry adequate water for washing. National Park campsites are operated by DPaW. They usually provide a mix of flushing or long-drop toilets, fire rings and clearly defined camping areas. Some campsites have showers. Private campsites vary significantly. Some have full ablution blocks with showers and flushing toilets, others only provide a long-drop toilet. Meals: Meals as per the tour itinerary are included. i.e.(b) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner and morning tea. There will also be a plentiful supply of fresh fruit available throughout the day. Special dietary requirements can usually be catered for where prior notice is given. Please contact the office if you have a special dietary requirement as a surcharge may apply. Trek Grading: Bush walks will be over a number of different surfaces including rough tracks, rocky outcrops, hilly country and in and out of gorges. All walks are optional and will be able to be conducted at your own pace. There may also be some optional rock scrambling. To ensure maximum enjoyment, participants on this trip will need to have a good level of fitness. Weather: The tour has been timed to coincide with the dry season. Days are usually dry and hot with temperatures around the low to mid 30 degrees Celsius. The nights can be cool with minimum temperatures around degrees Celsius. Clothing: A suggested list of items to bring on tour will be included with our pre-departure information, sent to you about one month before departure. Generally, comfortable casual clothing is recommended. Light shirts and T-shirts are suitable for during the day and warmer jumpers and jackets may be needed for the evenings. Sturdy and comfortable walking shoes are a necessity. To make a booking or further information please contact Tom or Sylvia Grove at Coates Wildlife Tours P.O. Box 4502 Myaree BC, Myaree, WA 6960 Phone: Free Call Country & Interstate: coates@iinet.net.au Web:

6 Terms and Conditions Adina Nominees Pty Ltd (ACN ) as trustee for the Grove Family Trust trading as Coates Wildlife Tours (hereinafter referred to as the tour operator) shall not be liable for any accident injury sickness delay irregularity or damage however caused or arising during any tour under its management or otherwise. Tours are often safari trips to isolated areas, they may include off road driving, bushwalking, snorkelling, swimming and other activities. These along with wildlife interactions, planned or otherwise involve a certain degree of risk. All travel involves some measure of personal risk that each passenger has to determine and accept. Tour participants should be in reasonable health and fitness and be carrying all required medications in ample quantities. A medical clearance from a registered medical practitioner may be required for participants wishing to join some tours. Scenic flights, boat cruises, helicopter flights etc. These activities are not operated by the tour operator, nor by persons or companies associated with the tour operator. These activities involve inherent risk of injury, death, accident and loss. Passengers assume all risks with regard to any misadventure death, injury or loss which occurs during or as a result of any such activity. Should the tour operator deem it desirable for climatic or other reasons whatsoever to amend or vary any itinerary it may do so by shortening or varying the trip in which case no objection or claim for compensation will be made by the participant. The tour operator and its employees are unable to guarantee exact arrival and departure times, and are not liable for any failure to make connections with any other services. The tour operator does not own or operate any third party suppliers of air transportation, hotels, restaurants, cruise craft or local sightseeing companies. The tour operator is not responsible for any loss or expense due to overbooking of flights, accommodations, default of any third parties or any other cause beyond its control. The tour operator takes all reasonable care in selecting these operators, it cannot accept responsibility for the operators conduct or the conduct of their employees or agents or for any ramifications of that conduct. Whilst all care is taken, The tour operator do not accept liability for loss or damage to baggage, sickness or injury, or additional expenses caused by factors beyond their control. All care has been taken to ensure this brochure is correct at the time of printing. Prices and services as shown in this brochure are however subject to change or withdrawal without notice. BOOKING DETAILS DEPOSIT: See the relevant trip dossiers for the amount required. FINAL PAYMENT: In most cases, final payment is required at least 30 days prior to departure. However some tours may requirement payment up to 4 months prior to departure. Please refer to the tour s trip dossier for exact details. CANCELLATIONS Coates Wildlife Tours reserves the right to cancel any tour in the event of minimum numbers not being reached, in which case all moneys will be refunded in full. In respect of cancellations by a passenger, some tours have specified cancellation times and penalties, this specific information is available on the respective tours, trip dossier. Where no specific cancellation time or penalties are in place the following levies plus any costs charged by other parties involved with the tour will apply:- Where written notice is received 61 days or more prior to departure; $ days prior to departure; $ days or less prior to departure 100% No refunds are considered from the day the tour starts. INSURANCE We strongly recommend that travel insurance against imposition of cancellation fees, loss or damage to baggage and extra costs arising from injury or illness be effected. GENERAL INFORMATION EQUIPMENT:- Transport by an air-conditioned custom built 4WD tour coach or mini bus which ever is appropriate for the tour. Camping equipment suitable for each tour (except Sleeping bags and pillows) is provided. A second vehicle may accompany the group on tours to remote areas. In the case of breakdown or other unforeseen circumstances effecting the vehicle or guide, the operator reserves the right to substitute vehicles and guides other than those specified, to ensure the operation of a tour. GENERAL INFORMATION CONT. SEAT ALLOCATION:- Seats on tour vehicle are not pre allocated. To ensure all participants get to enjoy forward positioned and window seats we have incorporated a daily seat rotation system. LUGGAGE:- Please note that due to health and safety requirements luggage on tour is limited to one medium sized, soft sided bag per person. The sum of its length, width and height is not to exceed 140 cm. The maximum weight of the bag should not to exceed 15 kilograms. A small day pack is also permitted. International tours, some island tours and the Kimberley Coastal Cruises luggage limits may vary, please see the respective tours trip dossier for specific weight maximums. WILDLIFE:- Sighting of birds, or animals mentioned in the itineraries can not be guaranteed as they are wild and therefore free to come and go as they please. WILDFLOWER DISPLAYS:- Can not be guaranteed as they are dependent on seasonal rains. MEAL SYMBOLS:- B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner GROUP SIZES Minimum and maximum numbers apply to all tours. Generally tours have a maximum of 12 passengers. A camp cook and a naturalist leader will accompany camping groups with more than 6 passengers.